News - Sortition FoundationJoin the Sortition Foundation to demand real democracy now!http://www.sortitionfoundation.org/blog
10 Reasons Why We Like Sortition Citizens' Assemblies<p>Check out our latest publication: 10 reasons to run a sortition citizens' assembly, which our friends and supporters have also translated into (Brazilian) Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish. Enjoy!</p>
<p><a href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/287/attachments/original/1544622808/10_reasons_to_hold_a_citizens_assembly.pdf?1544622808"><img style="border-width: 1px; border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/287/attachments/original/1544622775/10-reasons-cover-en.png?1544622775" alt="10-reasons-cover-en.png" width="244" height="347" /></a> <a href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/287/attachments/original/1544622536/10_reasons_to_hold_a_citizens_assembly-Portugese.pdf?1544622536"><img style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/287/attachments/original/1544622777/10-reasons-cover-pu-br.png?1544622777" alt="10-reasons-cover-pu-br.png" width="247" height="349" /></a><a href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/287/attachments/original/1544622535/10_reasons_to_hold_a_citizens_assembly-Italian.pdf?1544622535"><img style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/287/attachments/original/1544622776/10-reasons-cover-it.png?1544622776" alt="10-reasons-cover-it.png" width="247" height="350" /></a><a title="10 reasons Spanish" href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/287/attachments/original/1545054558/10_reasons_to_hold_a_citizens_assembly-Spanish.pdf?1545054558"><img style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/287/attachments/original/1545054643/10-reasons-cover-es.png?1545054643" alt="10-reasons-cover-es.png" width="246" height="350" /></a></p>Mon, 17 Dec 2018 13:54:00 +0000Brett Hennighttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/10_reasons_why_we_like_sortition_citizens_assemblies
What would a randomly selected US Senate look like?<p>If you selected 100 people randomly from the US population and put them in the Senate, what would the age and demographics be like?</p>
<p><a title="Zach Roberts sortition graphic" href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/282/attachments/original/1539867116/random-senators.png"><img style="margin: 5px auto; display: block;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/282/attachments/original/1539867116/random-senators.png?1539867116" alt="random-senators.png" width="100%" /></a></p>
<p>Zach Roberts created <a title="Zach Roberts sortition graphic" href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/zach.roberts#!/vizhome/RandomSenators/Both">this great graphic</a> answering exactly that question. Perhaps the most obvious is it would have many more women, and of course far more young people. It would also, unsurprisingly, be a far more ethnically diverse Senate.</p>
<p>But, of course, the point of sortition is not only to make our legislatures far more inclusive, diverse, and representative — but to see what kind of impact this inclusivity and diversity has on the political process and the legislation that such a Senate passed.</p>
<p>What kind of laws do you think a sortition Senate of everyday people would pass?</p>Thu, 18 Oct 2018 14:02:00 +0100Brett Hennighttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/what_would_randomly_selected_senate_look_like
Sortition Foundation Strategy: 2019-2024<p><a title="Strategy 2019-2024" href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/281/attachments/original/1539937044/Strategy-2019-2024-v1.0.pdf?1539937044"><img style="margin: 5px; float: right;" title="Sortition Foundation Strategy" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/281/attachments/original/1537954243/sortition-strategy.jpg?1537954243" alt="" width="256" height="362" /></a>How should we do democracy better? How can we institute a sortition democracy? How do we get from here to there?</p>
<p>After a lengthy process of member and supporter consultation, we are proud to publish our <a title="Strategy Document 2019-2024" href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/281/attachments/original/1539937044/Strategy-2019-2024-v1.0.pdf?1539937044">Strategy Document 2019-2024</a>. This was endorsed by the directors in October 2018 and implementation has already began — although it is never too late to <a title="conact" href="contact">make comments and give feedback</a> as we will be reviewing it regularly.</p>
<h4>Sortition Ambassador Programme</h4>
<p>As soon as word got out about our new Sortition Ambassador Programme we had volunteers asking to be our first candidates. So, if you want to:</p>
<ul>
<li>learn about sortition - the "why" and the "how" - and learn about successful modern examples;</li>
<li>become skilled in advocating sortition assemblies in your local area;</li>
<li>be one of the first to graduate as a Sortition Ambassador!</li>
</ul>
<p>Then simply <a title="contact us" href="contact">get in touch</a>. The programme typically involves 1-2 hours of your time every week, and should normally be completed in less than 6 months.</p>
<p>We have a plan on how to get to a sortition democracy - now it's time to implement it!</p>Wed, 26 Sep 2018 10:30:00 +0100Brett Hennighttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/strategy_2019_2024
How to get from elections to sortition? Sortition Foundation strategy workshop<p><img style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; border-width: 2px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/201/attachments/original/1527848710/Citizens-Assembly-process.png?1527848710" alt="" width="100%" />On <span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Sunday June 10, 2-5pm</strong> (British Summer Time/GMT + 1) the Sortition Foundation will be discussing strategy: what is the best way to get <strong><em>from elections to sortition?</em></strong></span></p>
<p>There will be two face-to-face meetings, one in London and one in Cambridge, with people not in either of those locations joining us online. </p>
<p>If you would like to join us, it is not too late to RSVP, just <a title="contact" href="https://www.sortitionfoundation.org/contact">drop us an email</a> and we will send you links to the agenda, our strategy discussion paper, and all the meeting details.</p>
<p><strong><em>Strategy Discussion: How to get from elections to sortition?</em></strong></p>
<p><em>When</em>: <span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Sunday June 10, 2-5pm</strong> (British Summer Time/GMT + 1).</span></p>
<p><em>Where</em>: London, Cambridge, and online.</p>
<p><em>RSVP:</em> <a title="contact" href="https://www.sortitionfoundation.org/contact">Via email</a>.</p>
<p>We look forward to talking with you about what you think is the best way forward.</p>Fri, 01 Jun 2018 11:17:00 +0100Brett Hennighttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/how_to_get_from_elections_to_sortition_strategy_workshop
Mavoix - French group uses sortition to select election candidates<p><em><strong>[Disclaimer: the Sortition Foundation is non-partisan and does not endorse any political parties. This is published as an interesting experiment in the use of sortition in politics]</strong></em></p>
<figure style="text-align: center;">
<figcaption>"Who's representing me the best?"</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/245/attachments/original/1526981193/mavoix1.jpg?1526981193" alt="" width="451" height="338" /></p>
<p><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z"><em><strong></strong></em>A group of friends began t</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">he collective #MAVOIX<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z">(meaning "my voice")</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>in France in 2015</span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z"><span> </span>- they all believed that the current form of our</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">r</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">epresentative<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">d</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">emocracy</span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z"><span> </span>has failed us</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">. </span></p>
<div id="magicdomid270" class="ace-line">
<span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">The idea was to<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">bring together diverse<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">citizens from different<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">backgrounds</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>to collaborate</span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">,</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>discuss<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">and work out how</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>to "hack" the<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z">Assemblée Nationale</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span></span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z">by allowing<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">everyday<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z">citizens to<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">participate in the creation </span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">o</span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">f</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>every</span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z"><span> </span></span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z">single</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>law. </span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z">After a first run at a local election in 2016, the goal</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>was<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">set<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">to</span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z"><span> </span>send several deputies</span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z"><span> </span>(Members of Parliament)</span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z"><span> </span>to</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>Parliament<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">after</span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z"><span> </span>the June 2017<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">election.</span>
</div>
<div id="magicdomid1487" class="ace-line">
<span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">Once elected, the</span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z">se</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>deputies would</span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z"><span> </span>play a very special role. Instead of<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">vo</span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z">ting according to</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>their own program</span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z"><span> </span>or convictions, they</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>w</span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z">ould</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">always<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">vote according to<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z">the<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">outcome</span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z"><span> </span>of<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">every citizen</span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z"><span> </span>who had<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">vote</span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">d</span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z"><span> </span>on an online platform:</span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z"><span> </span></span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z">if, for</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>example, 10 #MAVOIX<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z">deputies<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">were<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">in</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>the Assembly, and the result<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">from</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>the online platform about<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">a</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>law w</span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">as</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z"><span> </span>40% YES, 30% NO and 30% ABSTENTION,<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">then<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">the<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z">#MAVOIX<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">deputies would vote<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">in</span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z"><span> </span>the same </span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">proportions<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">(</span><span class="author-a-6ljdl8z72zf7z77zz72zbmnz71zz78z">in this case:<span> </span></span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">4 YES, 3 NO, 3 ABSTENTION</span><span class="author-a-b70z83z9auz66z6cz86z2z73zz82zkz122z">S</span><span class="author-a-az69zz85zz75zz71zz67zgz67zz82z4boz76zgaz86z">).</span>
</div>
<div class="ace-line"></div>
<p><iframe class="embedly-embed" src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FLPH9L5iBpf4%3Fwmode%3Dtransparent%26feature%3Doembed&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DLPH9L5iBpf4&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FLPH9L5iBpf4%2Fhqdefault.jpg&amp;key=e23856ccc1f011e0b5e44040d3dc5c07&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=youtube" width="600" height="338" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>Wed, 30 May 2018 12:47:00 +0100Brett Hennighttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/mavoix_french_group_uses_sortition_to_select_candidates
Beating the Cambridge Analyticas: change the way we (s)elect our representatives<p style="text-align: left;"><img class="imagecache wysiwyg_imageupload caption-xlarge imagecache imagecache-article_xlarge" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" src="https://cdn.opendemocracy.net/files/imagecache/article_xlarge/wysiwyg_imageupload/500209/1024px-Busto_di_Aristotele_conservato_a_Palazzo_Altemps,_Roma._Foto_di_Giovanni_Dall'Orto.jpg" alt="lead " width="460" /><strong>As Aristotle put it: ‘It is accepted as democratic when public offices are allocated by lot, and as oligarchic when they are filled by election’ (Aristotle, Politics IV. 9, 1294b8).</strong></p>
<p>We are now all aware of how our electoral systems have been manipulated by harvesting our digital footprints and preferences. Targeted messages, images and false information are then deployed to support or denigrate particular candidates, with no verification and no disclosure of the source of the posts.</p>
<p>Whatever it’s called legally, this is electoral fraud and we need to stop it. Here’s my suggestion – let’s adopt sortition (selection by lot) together with what I will call ‘filtration’ as our preferred electoral system.</p>Mon, 26 Mar 2018 08:55:00 +0100Robin Cohenhttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/beating_cambridge_analytica
It's time for a UK citizens' constitutional convention<p><span><img style="margin: 5px; float: left;" title="UK Parliament" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/9/attachments/original/1515667767/UK-parliament.jpg?1515667767" alt="UK Parliament" width="400" height="240" />The <a title="Sortition Foundation" href="http://www.sortitionfoundation.org/">Sortition Foundation</a> has recently joined an <a href="https://assembliesfordemocracy.org/2017/07/27/call-to-form-citizens-convention-alliance/">alliance of groups calling for a citizens' constitutional convention</a> in the UK.</span></p>
<p><span>It all started back in the summer of 2014 when a group of people, concerned about the state of democracy in the UK, created <a title="Assemblies For Democracy" href="http://www.assembliesfordemocracy.org">Assemblies For Democracy</a>. Their aim is to <em>highlight the glaring democratic deficit in the UK and propose solutions.</em> They organised meetings, networked with like-minded people, groups and politicians and, in July 2016, published a letter in the Guardian, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/01/time-for-a-new-uk-citizens-constitution">Time for a new UK citizens’ constitution</a>.</span></p>Thu, 11 Jan 2018 13:14:00 +0000Peter Crosshttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/time_for_a_uk_citizens_constitutional_convention
Launch of International Sortition Network: Democracy R&D<p><img style="margin: 5px; float: right;" title="Medialab Prado" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/9/attachments/original/1515667721/0910-nl-medialab-prado-003-copia-980x480.jpeg?1515667721" alt="Medialab Prado" width="400" />On Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th of January 2018 around 40 people from more than 15 organisations will meet, many in person at <a title="Medialab Prado" href="http://medialab-prado.es/">Medialab Prado</a> in Madrid (others will join online), to develop the founding principles and processes of an international sortition network: <a title="Democracy R&amp;D" href="https://democracyrd.org/">Democracy R&amp;D</a>.</p>
<p>The <a title="Sortition Foundation" href="http://www.sortitionfoundation.org/">Sortition Foundation</a> will be at the two day meeting, alongside representatives from <a title="newDemocracy" href="http://newdemocracy.com.au/">newDemocracy</a> (Australia), hosts <span><a title="ParticipaLab" href="http://medialab-prado.es/participa-lab">ParticipaLab</a> (Spain),</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><a title="Forum dos Cidadãos" href="http://www.forumdoscidadaos.pt/">Forum dos Cidadãos</a> (Portugal), <a title="G1000" href="http://g1000.org/">G1000</a> (Belgium) and <a title="G1000" href="https://g1000.nu/">G1000</a> (Netherlands), <a title="MASS LBP" href="https://www.masslbp.com/">MASS LBP</a> (Canada), <a title="Missions Publiques" href="https://missionspubliques.org/">Missions Publiques</a> (France), <a title="Particitiz" href="https://particitiz.org/">Particitiz</a> (Belgium), <a title="Japan Research Forum on Mini-Publics" href="https://jrfminipublics.wixsite.com/mysite">Japan Research Forum on Mini-Publics</a>, <a title="Danish Board of Technology Foundation" href="http://www.tekno.dk/?lang=en">Danish Board of Technology Foundation</a>, <a title="Bertelsmann Stiftung Foundation" href="https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/en/home/">Bertelsmann Stiftung Foundation</a> (Germany), <a title="ECI Campaign" href="http://www.citizens-initiative.eu/">ECI Campaign</a> (EU), <a title="Democracy in Practice" href="https://democracyinpractice.org/">Democracy in Practice</a> (Bolivia/US/Canada), <a title="Jefferson Center" href="https://jefferson-center.org/">Jefferson Center</a> (US), <a title="Healthy Democracy" href="https://healthydemocracy.org/">Healthy Democracy</a> (US), Empowering Participation (Australia), the <a title="Policy Jury Group" href="http://www.policyjurygroup.org/">Policy Jury Group</a> (US) and the <a title="Nexus Institute" href="https://www.nexusinstitut.de/en/institute/about-us">Nexus Institute</a> (Germany).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The two day meeting promises to lay the groundwork for international collaboration and skill-sharing to promote and institute sortition locally, nationally, and even internationally. Watch this space for a post-meeting report.</span></p>Thu, 11 Jan 2018 10:52:00 +0000Brett Hennighttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/launch_of_international_sortition_network
Discovering the People’s Will<p><a href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/198/attachments/original/1513857124/Discovering_the_People's_Will_-_Irish_CA_submission_-_Sortition_Foundation.pdf?1513857124"><img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/198/attachments/original/1513857384/sortition-front-cover-ndf.png?1513857384" alt="sortition-front-cover-ndf.png" width="300" height="424" /></a>The <a href="http://www.sortitionfoundation.org">Sortition Foundation</a>, in collaboration with <a href="http://www.newdemocracy.com.au">newDemocracy</a>, has submitted a report, <a href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/198/attachments/original/1513857124/Discovering_the_People's_Will_-_Irish_CA_submission_-_Sortition_Foundation.pdf"><em><strong>Discovering the People’s Will: Citizens’ Assemblies as Trusted Proxies in Irish Referenda</strong></em></a>, to the <a href="https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/">Irish Citizens' Assembly</a> proposing that every referendum in Ireland be preceded by a Citizens' Assembly. Yes, it is kind of self-referential (very postmodern, perhaps!) to try to convince a Citizens' Assembly to propose that Citizens' Assemblies are the way to go. They are meeting to deliberate on the topic in mid-January - let's see what they recommend.</p>Thu, 21 Dec 2017 11:47:00 +0000Brett Hennighttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/discovering_the_peoples_will
Legislature by Lot<p><em>[Note: this has been adapted from an orginial blog post here: <a title="Legislature by Lot" href="http://www.bretthennig.com/legislature_by_lot">http://www.bretthennig.com/legislature_by_lot</a>]</em></p>
<p><img style="float: right; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/194/attachments/original/1505118334/AR-160619960.jpg?1505118334" alt="legislature" width="300" /></p>
<p>From Friday to Sunday this weekend (September 15-17) the co-founder and director of the <a title="Sortition Foundation" href="http://www.sortitionfoundation.org/">Sortition Foundation</a>, <a title="Brett Hennig" href="http://www.bretthennig.com/">Brett Hennig</a>, will be joining a group of academics, researchers and activists gathering at the <a href="http://www.wisc.edu/">University of Wisconsin-Madison</a> to discuss the pros and cons of a "Legislature by Lot" - a parliament, senate or congress selected by sortition. </p>
<p>The workshop is being organised by <a title="John Gastil" href="http://cas.la.psu.edu/people/jwg22">Professor John Gastil</a> (<a title="Penn State" href="http://www.psu.edu/">Penn State</a>) and <a title="Erik Olin Wright" href="https://www.ssc.wisc.edu/~wright/">Professor Erik Olin Wright</a> (<a href="http://www.wisc.edu/">University of Wisconsin-Madison</a>) who have drafted the principal proposal that attendees are responding to. Their proposal is for a bicameral legislature where one chamber is elected and one is selected using sortition.</p>Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:01:00 +0100Brett Hennighttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/legislature_by_lot
Sortition - doing democracy differently | Brett Hennig | TEDxDanubia<p>A TEDx talk on sortition from May 2017 has just been released:</p>
<p><iframe class="embedly-embed" src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2F-FsOH4KQp54%3Fstart%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent%26feature%3Doembed%26start%3D1&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D-FsOH4KQp54&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F-FsOH4KQp54%2Fhqdefault.jpg&amp;key=e1208cbfb854483e8443b1ed081912ee&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=youtube" width="600" height="338" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>Mon, 22 May 2017 10:55:00 +0100Brett Hennighttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/sortition_brett_hennig_tedxdanubia
A Citizens’ Assembly for the Scottish Parliament<p><a title="CA Scotland" href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/201/attachments/original/1518611884/Citizen_assembly_paper_final.pdf?1518611884"><img style="float: right; margin: 3px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/201/attachments/original/1518611793/Citizen_assembly_paper_final.png?1518611793" alt="CA Scotland cover" width="228" height="322" /></a>How would sortition be implemented in practice?</p>
<p>A <a href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/201/attachments/original/1518611884/Citizen_assembly_paper_final.pdf?1518611884">new paper</a> proposing a second chamber for the Scottish Parliament, selected using sortition, has been published by the <a title="Sortition Foundation" href="http://www.sortitionfoundation.org/">Sortition Foundation</a> in collaboration with <a href="https://www.commonspace.scot/">Common Weal Scotland</a> and the <a href="http://www.newdemocracy.com.au/">newDemocracy Foundation</a>. It gives a detailed answer to the question of implementation.</p>
<p>Initial (somewhat inaccurate) <a href="http://www.thenational.scot/news/15123859.Scottish____Lords____could_earn___55k_a_year_in_second_Holyrood_chamber">press coverage by The National</a> was okay, except for the unhelpful headline which focused on the proposed salary and called assembly members Scottish 'Lords'.</p>
<p>A (sold out) <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/is-it-time-for-a-citizens-assembly-in-the-scottish-parliament-tickets-31505474723">talk at Edinburgh University</a> will discuss the merits of the proposal.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/201/attachments/original/1518611884/Citizen_assembly_paper_final.pdf?1518611884">full paper can be accessed here</a>.</p>Thu, 02 Mar 2017 11:03:00 +0000Brett Hennighttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/a_citizens_assembly_for_the_scottish_parliament
AGM, book launch, G1000 tour and more!<p>Spring is coming and the <a title="Sortition Foundation" href="http://www.sortitionfoundation.org/">Sortition Foundation</a> has an action-packed March chock-full of events, not least of which is our second Annual General Meeting happening on Wednesday March 15 at 8:30pm at <a title="Mildreds Kings Cross" href="http://www.mildreds.co.uk/kings-cross/">Mildreds Restaurant in Kings Cross</a>. If you plan on coming along please <a title="contact us" href="http://www.sortitionfoundation.org/contact">send us an email</a> to let us know.</p>
<p><img style="margin: 3px auto; display: block;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/141/attachments/original/1485765976/Facebook-event-book-launch-general.jpg?1485765976" alt="book launch general" width="600" /></p>
<p><img style="float: left; border: 1px solid black; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/148/attachments/original/1485777978/CSD_Westminister_logo_25.jpg?1485777978" alt="CSD" width="350" />Otherwise if you are in (or near) Brighton, London, Bristol, Liverpool, Edinburgh or Cambridge then here is an event or two for your calendar:</p>
<p><strong>Brighton</strong>: 7pm Monday March 13 @ The Blue Man Cafe: <a title="Book launch and G1000 info" href="http://www.bretthennig.com/book_launch_brighton">The End of Politicians book launch and G1000 information evening</a> (<a title="Book launch and G1000 info" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/950820378388643/">Facebook</a> event)</p>
<p><strong>London</strong>: 6pm Tuesday March 14 @ Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Westminster: <a href="http://www.bretthennig.com/reinvigorating_democracy_through_random_selection">Reinvigorating democracy through random selection</a> (<a title="Facebook link" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1784439638483449/">Facebook</a> event)</p>Mon, 06 Feb 2017 11:17:22 +0000Brett Hennighttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/agm_book_launch_g1000_tour
Of the People... all the People<p align="LEFT" class="western"><em><img style="float: right; margin: 3px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/136/attachments/original/1479767522/Outrage_Generator.jpg?1479767522" alt="Outrage_Generator.jpg" width="316" height="123" />Britain's historical issues around racism, sexism and homophobia have left an awkward and potentially irreconcilable difficulty at the heart of our democracy – one which sortition would remove at a stroke, argues Daz Pearce.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p align="LEFT" class="western">A few months ago in the capacity of my 'regular' job, I was chatting to the human resources manager after (much to my own surprise) winning one of those 'employee recognition' awards. Among other things, we discussed a period several years ago when things were, shall we say, less positive than they currently are. One aspect that I recalled vividly in our discussion was a sense that there were a <em>handful of individuals deliberately making my life more difficult than it needed to be – </em>those familiar with toxic office politics will understand the idea of being 'set up for failure' and then 'chastised' in public rather than in private etc. That the departure of one of these people coincided neatly with a positive shift in my own career fortunes served as confirmation that <em>this problem had been real, rather than perceived or imagined.</em></p>
<p align="LEFT" class="western">Apologies if that came over as self-indulgent, the relevance is this: when I look back, I now have no doubt whatsoever that this sense of having been 'got at' affected me in many ways, all of them negative. It caused me to spend time looking over my own shoulder for slings and arrows, rather than 'playing the next ball' with a positive approach. It exacerbated a suspicion of authority that if I'm honest had always existed to some degree anyway, and fed a cynicism about the fragility of whatever you <strong></strong>have worked hard for, this idea that <em>someone who doesn't like the look of you could come and take it <strong></strong>away at any time. </em>Painful as it was, in a very narrow sense I'm glad it happened – being white, male, agnostic and heterosexual pretty much disqualifies me from suffering as a result of most forms of bigotry<strong></strong>, but <em>I got an idea of how its <strong></strong>victims, or at least some of them, must feel.</em></p>
<p align="LEFT" class="western">On the subject of bigotry, there are two key points that probably need to be communicated before we go further: (1) a clear majority (at an educated guess, circa 90 per cent<strong></strong>) of the population are not prejudiced on the common race/gender/sexuality grounds themselves, while regarding acts fueled by such bigotry and attempts at discrimination as dumb and dangerous in equal measure; (2) unfortunately, a significant minority still have 'issues with difference' in one form or another and that minority will continue to exist ad infinitum in all likelihood. By significant, I am referring to their nature as opposed to their number – a minority sufficiently motivated to 'get off their arse and do something' even (or maybe especially) a 'lone wolf' minority of one like Anders Breivik, could never be written off as 'insignificant' by any objective measure.</p>
<p align="LEFT" class="western"><em>Power resides in what you're capable of, not simply how many of you there</em> are.</p>Fri, 25 Nov 2016 18:16:00 +0000Daz Pearcehttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/of_the_people_all_the_people
Showbiz for Ugly People<p align="LEFT" class="western"><em><img style="float: right; margin: 3px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/9/attachments/original/1478813659/mellor-image-2-513845604.jpg?1478813659" alt="Melloe" width="256" />Representative democracy turns politicians into celebrities, which results in us asking all the wrong questions both of and about them. Switching to sortition would break the link between decision-making and 'showbiz' culture, argues Daz Pearce.</em></p>
<p align="LEFT" class="western">This coming Friday's episode of <em>Have I Got News for You</em> is somewhat conspicuous in being the first of the current series not to feature an active politician either as host or on the panel. So far Series 52 has seen <span style="color: #000080;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07zbgy9">Ruth Davidson</a></span></span>, <span style="color: #000080;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b080ck6l">Tim Farron</a></span></span>, <span style="color: #000080;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0812kjm">Chris Bryant</a></span></span> and <span style="color: #000080;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b081zz94">Tim Loughton</a></span></span> making an appearance as panelists after <span style="color: #000080;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07ybd6m">Nick Clegg</a></span></span> bravely (or perhaps simply knowing he's leaving parliament) dared to take the host's seat in its first episode. Previous inhabitants of that chair have included Boris Johnson and William Hague, both of whom went on to subsequently become Foreign Secretary. Farron (who has now been on HIGNFY twice) merely followed the late Charles Kennedy and Nigel Farage in being the latest 'current' party leader to put his head on the block.</p>
<p align="LEFT" class="western">Far from being solely a bit of fun for a household name no longer in the front line, it's become a way in which politicians of all persuasions and colours have been able to either cultivate, or at least maintain, a public image for the purposes of career advancement – sure, their own performances (<span style="color: #000080;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BbvIUUnPoQ">the quite brilliant Kennedy excepted</a></span></span>) tend to be about as funny as a tropical disease, just as a Select Committee comprising wholly of comedians would not inspire you with total confidence. The 'role' of the active politician on the show seems to have been refined to answering (or refusing to answer) difficult or compromising questions about crises or clashes within their own party, watching potentially 'regrettable' footage of themselves, and letting Merton, Hislop and another mercilessly rip the piss out of them with good humour.</p>
<p align="LEFT" class="western">Of course <em>Have I Got News for You</em> is just the most obvious example of a vehicle through which politicians are invited or choose to invade popular culture. <em>Top Gear, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross</em> and even <em>This Morning</em> are other high-profile shows on which active parliamentarians have appeared in order to raise their profile, usually with the understanding that a few cheap laughs will be derived by the studio and viewing audience at their expense (less so with <em>This Morning</em> than the other two, at least in the case of <em>intended</em> laughter). It's worth asking how this became possible and why somebody doing what's supposed to be quite a serious job would subject themselves to anything like <span style="color: #000080;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2kerzNLTIY">the embarrassing cross-examination that David Cameron got from Ross a decade ago</a></span></span>.</p>Thu, 10 Nov 2016 22:00:08 +0000Daz Pearcehttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/showbiz_for_ugly_people
Games that People Play<p align="LEFT" class="western"><em><img style="float: right; margin: 3px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/9/attachments/original/1477297146/Bill_Clinton.jpg" alt="Bill Clinton" width="256" />Replacing representative democracy with sortition would break the link between victory and power, end partisan tribalism and transform the governance of a nation into a mature decision-making process instead of the team sport it currently is, argues Daz Pearce.</em></p>
<p align="LEFT" class="western"> </p>
<p align="LEFT" class="western">About a month ago I was having a conversation with a mate who it's fair to say has politics that are well to the left of mine. Predictably enough, the topic was that of the Labour Party and equally unsurprisingly, our analyses of the situation as it stood headed off in rather different directions at quite an early stage. However, he raised two points which deserved nothing less than careful thought – one was 'the Clinton Paradox', the conundrum which faced Bill ahead of the 1992 presidential election. In short, there were two choices presented to the Democrats and their frontman ahead of that campaign were. First choice: pursue more obvious, recognisable and ideological left-of-centre positions on key policy areas to have a mandate for real change if successful (which, conversely, is also the strategy with the greatest risk of electoral failure).</p>Mon, 24 Oct 2016 09:49:00 +0100Daz Pearcehttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/games_that_people_play
Referenda - Delusions of Democracy<p><em><img style="float: right; margin: 3px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/9/attachments/original/1474978512/350m_bus.jpg?1474978512" alt="" width="356" /><strong>The menu at Cafe Referenda is distinctly limited – only sortition gives people real choices over the real choices, argues Daz Pearce.</strong></em></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLP6QluMlrg">To paraphrase Suzanne Vega</a>, you walk into the diner and pick up a menu. It contains two options, namely Carnivore Speciale or Vegetariana. Logical powers of deduction suggest that one almost certainly contains meat and the other doesn't, but unless you're a self-identified vegetarian, or some wild inhabitant of the Serengeti taking a well-earned vacation, that probably isn't an enormous help. Even then, you'd like to know a few more of the particulars before deciding which, if any, of these appetising options most appeal to you. A minute later, a woman wanders over to your table, imploring you to <em>vote Vegetariana</em> - <em>“Just think of the millions of animals impacted by your choice,”</em> she quite ridiculously pleads before badgering you for several minutes about how <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacRTqk5QFM">'Meat is Murder'</a> until some Jehovah's Witnesses helpfully come along to make the save.</p>
<p>A short while later a man in a suit who looks, sounds and smells like he's been drinking heavily sidles up to you, explaining that he saw and heard the exchange you had with the vegetarian woman earlier. <em>“She's talking out of her arse,”</em> he tells you, <em>“I reckon it's time you took back control, stuck it to the man and went Carnivore Speciale.” </em>Confused, you approach the owner of the diner and ask him exactly what these two options consist of. Pulling a face, and with an apologetic look in his eyes, he informs you that 'the rules' dictate that he's not allowed to tell you that and, seeing as you're here, those same 'rules' mean that they're locking you in and you have to choose one of those options NOW. And by the way, would you like the alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink with that? Please note that the same 'rules' apply...</p>
<p> </p>Wed, 28 Sep 2016 16:25:04 +0100Daz Pearcehttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/referenda_delusions_of_democracy
Blair, Cameron, Messiah-Seeking and Victimhood<p><img style="float: right; margin: 3px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/9/attachments/original/1474358464/Tony-Blair-politics-Chilcot-Report-587075.jpg" alt="Blair the Messiah" width="311" height="184" /></p>
<p><strong><em>In a representative democracy we can always simply blame the messiah – not so with sortition, writes Daz Pearce.</em></strong></p>
<p>Tony Blair is an important person in my life whether I like it or not. I was fifteen years old on <a title="UK Labour Party - Do it 1997" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmwqEg-06Ww">THAT day in May 1997</a>, a day we can safely say only representative democracy can give you. Sure, there was the 'fake spontaneous demonstration' at Downing Street as D:Ream became to that General Election what Baddiel and Skinner had been to England's oh-so-near-miss at Euro 96. But there was also hope, a vibe, a positive energy felt by millions – the Tories had been not just kicked out, <a title="The Portillo Moment" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVvWE6V9ulE">but pulverised into near-irrelevance</a>. Were they a fighter, it was the sort of beating that you'd point out many never come back from - half the cabinet had lost their seats, Scotland had launched them face first back over Hadrian's Wall and their remaining MPs resembled those Japanese ex-soldiers who appear periodically having been in hiding since about 1944, wondering where they were, how they got here and what the hell they'd missed.</p>
<p>The sleazy, tired, rudderless Tories thoroughly deserved it, of course they did.</p>
<p>That was one half of the story, Tony Blair was the other. <a title="Blair speech at Blackpool" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oDB667TB18">Telegenic, charismatic and with an avalanche of good news for just about everybody</a>, Blair presented New Labour as the political equivalent of some miracle cure for baldness, only the 'potential side effects' on the back of the bottle were, well, precisely none. No losers, only winners. No tough decisions required, not when everything's so simple to figure out. Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime, education, education, education, The Environment will be at the centre of everything we do - after all, it's the economy, stupid. The popularity of the New Labour brand in 1997 was indicated not by the fact that they won (just about anybody in a red rosette could have managed that) but the colossal margin of victory, <a title="Election stats 1997" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4BkRMZLrn8">a whacking majority of 179</a>, an elective dictatorship in all but name.</p>Tue, 20 Sep 2016 09:30:00 +0100Daz Pearcehttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/blair_cameron_messiah_seeking_and_victimhood
G1000 Kick Off in the UK - Cambridge, September 24th<p><a title="Against Elections" href="https://penguin.com.au/books/against-elections-9781847924223"><img style="float: right; margin: 3px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/110/attachments/original/1472832262/against-elections.jpg?1472832262" alt="against-elections.jpg" width="256" /></a>If Brexit proved anything, it proved that what <span style="font-weight: lighter;">Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels</span> say in <a title="Democracy for Realists" href="http://press.princeton.edu/titles/10671.html">Democracy for Realists: Why Elections Do Not Produce Responsive Government</a> is true. People do not vote after careful consideration of facts and options, they vote to affirm their membership of various social groups and express agreement with the opinions of those groups, which may have little or nothing to do with the issue at hand being voted upon.</p>
<p>As David Van Reybrouck expressed so eloquently in his article, <a title="Why elections are bad for democracy" href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/29/why-elections-are-bad-for-democracy">Why elections are bad for democracy</a> (an extract from his book <a title="Against Elections" href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jul/18/against-elections-the-case-for-democracy-david-van-reybrouck-review">Against Elections</a>) there is something very wrong with voting and elections and there is a much better way to do democracy: select a representative random sample of ordinary people, provide them with balanced information, and let them deliberate together to find out not what people <strong>do</strong> think, but what they <strong>would</strong> think, if given the time and information together with a good deliberative process.</p>
<p>From 11am to 4pm on September 24th, in Cambridge at the <a title="Six Bells Pub" href="http://sixbellspub.co.uk/">Six Bells Pub</a>, a group of volunteers will meet to kick-off the process of bringing Van Reybrouck's brainchild - a <a title="G1000 UK" href="http://www.g1000.uk/">G1000</a> - to the UK for the first time. The dream is to bring a randomly selected group of 1000 residents together for one day in early 2017, to deliberate and decide together what is best for Cambridge.</p>
<p>But we need your help to make it a reality. We need people to donate their time and their energy to help organise such an event. We will need fundraisers, social media ambassadors, technicians, volunteers, cooks and a whole host of other help. Can you be one of these people? If so please <a title="join us" href="supporter">join us</a>, <a title="contact us" href="contact">get in touch</a> or come along to the <a title="G1000 Kick-off" href="http://www.g1000.uk/g1000_kick_off">G1000 Kick-off in Cambridge on September 24th</a>.</p>Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:28:00 +0100Brett Hennighttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/g1000_kick_off_in_the_uk_cambridge_september_24th
Brexit - A Generation’s Darkest Hour<p><img style="float: right; margin: 3px;" src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sortitionfoundation/pages/109/attachments/original/1468328309/Brexit.png?1468328309" alt="Brexit" width="431" height="271" /></p>
<p>EU Referendum Commentary by Samuel Jefferson</p>
<p><em>Samuel Jefferson was a full time Junior Doctor until only a few years ago. He’s now an award winning </em><a href="http://www.samueljefferson.org/"><em>screenwriter</em></a><em>, spending a lot of his time writing scripts for television shows or films. He’s also gay man in his late twenties, living in London, and someone who’s still constantly in his student overdraft.<br></em></p>
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<p>When someone writes a film, there’s a tried and tested structure that they can follow; a sort of guideline for making it resonate with the audience. A large part of the foundation for these guidelines actually comes from the work and ideas of <a href="http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/aristotle/section11.rhtml">Aristotle</a>, one of the great thinkers of Ancient Greece. One of these key structural points comes towards the end of the film, at about three quarters finished. This moment is known as <a href="http://thescriptlab.com/screenwriting/structure/the-sequence/45-the-eight-sequences">‘the low point’</a>, or more emotively, the <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DarkestHour">‘darkest hour’.</a> Basically the lead character of the film gets to a point where it seems like they’ve lost everything. A point so crushing to their hopes and dreams that it seems there’s no hope for the future. Billy in <a href="http://gb.imdb.com/title/tt0249462/"><em>Billy Elliot</em></a><em> </em>is told he can’t go to the ballet school audition by his father. Luke in <a href="http://gb.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1"><em>Star Wars</em></a><em> </em>sees Obi Wan Kenobi die in a lightsabre battle. Maximus in <a href="http://gb.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/?ref_=nv_sr_1"><em>Gladiator</em></a><em> </em>is betrayed and captured, ready to be thrown into the colosseum to be killed. I could give you a thousand more examples, but you get the idea.</p>
<p>For the majority of the young, University educated, middle class voters in the UK, it feels like our <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DarkestHour">‘darkest hour’</a> has come. The <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32810887">EU Referendum</a> has taken place, and by a small percentage, the people voted as a country to leave the <a href="http://europa.eu/index_en.htm">European Union</a>. The statistics show it’s <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/02/brexit-referendum-voters-survey">people like me who voted to remain</a>. This certainly seemed to be the case before the vote, as my Facebook feed filled with pro-Europe rhetoric over the last few weeks. But now the same feed is filled with words of disbelief, anger, and genuine heartbreak. Like a character from a film, my peers and I were caught-up in ourselves, unware of the defeat that was looming. </p>
<p> </p>Tue, 12 Jul 2016 13:55:00 +0100Brett Hennighttp://www.sortitionfoundation.org/brexit_a_generations_darkest_hour